ÈJÍWÙNMÍ

ÈJÍWÙNMÍ

Èjíwùnmí [1] is not her name,
But Èjíwùnmí her name became.
An eulogy to the beauty that her gap teeth gave,
Which made her stand out as everyone’s fave.

Mesmerised I was, when she flashed me a smile.
To get a glimpse of her, I would walk a whole mile.
Time for me stood still whenever her lips gave way,
‘Ma pà mí obínrín yi’,[2] my delicate heart would say.

I am not able to stop my heart’s palpitations, and the surges to my glands,
The pounding against my rib cage, or the tremor in my hands…
I couldn’t tame my heart from unleashing it’s raging flutter,
‘Omo, na wa o!’, [3] my reasoning, I fail to de-clutter.

An oríkì [4] of praise arises within me, ‘a du ma dán, èlérin pa’ni l’èrin [5]…
Ah! trust me, mo le nitori ti e, gun àkàba mèrin [6],
Just to admire nature’s unique personal identification mark,
That has thrown me so much off my journey’s track.

Like white pearls against her pink lips and glossy dark skin,
Her well chiseled teeth add to her glorious grin.
She’s drop-dead gorgeous, I mutter as she edges out of sight…
Ègba mi, sisi yi ni mo wo titi mo fi miss flight! [7]

Till today, vivid pictures of her face, in my heart are taped.
It has clearly my thoughts of marriage shaped.
‘Máàmi [8]… even if I don’t ever see her again,
Obìnrìn to pe’ji ni nma fè [9], whether she be Olá, Ada, Rekia or Jane!’

©️ Ayo Jaiyesimi 2021

*Footnotes
Èjíwùnmí [1] -  This is a pet name for people with gapped teeth in the Yoruba language. It was considered a mark of beauty, especially amongst women.
Ma pà mí obínrín yi[2] - ‘You woman, don’t kill me!’
Omo, na wa o [3] - Pidgin English remark, ‘Girl, I’m lost for words’.
Oríkì [4]- Praise Chant
A du ma dán, èlérin pain l’èrin [5] - Shining ebony lady with a captivating smile.
Mo le nitori ti e, gun àkàba mèrin [6] – I can climb four sets of ladders, just to see you.
Ègba mi, sisi yi ni mo wo titi mo fi miss flight! [7] - O my gosh! I spent so much time admiring her that I missed my flight.
Máàmi [8] Pet name for Mother.
Obìnrìn to p’eji  ni nma fè [9] – I must marry a lady with gapped teeth.